Azerbaijan to File International Lawsuit Against Russia Over AZAL Plane Crash, Cites MH17 Parallels

Azerbaijan is preparing to file a lawsuit in an International Criminal Court against Russia over the downing of an AZAL passenger plane near Aktau.

According to Azerbaijan’s state news agency “Ara”, Russian officials, experts, and media continue to deny involvement in the incident, instead attributing responsibility to the aircraft's crew. The report draws parallels between this case and the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over East of Ukraine, for which Moscow has not acknowledged responsibility.

“Russian officials, experts, and media continue to deny their involvement in the incident, attempting to shift the blame onto the crew. This approach closely resembles the tactics used following the downing of the Malaysian Boeing 777 in 2014 over Donetsk region, for which Moscow has yet to take responsibility,” the agency reported.

Azerbaijani authorities stated that they have gathered intelligence on those who issued the order leading to the attack.

“Despite the evidence, attempts to divert the investigation and place blame on the crew are deeply concerning,” the report added.

The ongoing investigation includes experts from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Brazil—the aircraft’s manufacturing country—ensuring a comprehensive review of the incident.

On December 25, 2023, an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, resulting in at least 38 fatalities. Investigations revealed that the aircraft was hit by a Russian Pantsir-S missile.